Long ago there lived a beautiful child. Her name was Violet. Fair of skin, with blonde hair and large blue eyes. Born of wild magic, she was a woman with a child’s heart. Innocent and lovely, but not at all what she seemed--you see Violet went by another name: The Heartsong.

She was the child of fairy magic, the physical manifestation of all fae kinds unbridled power. Cosseted and pampered, she grew up in isolation, never knowing who she really was, or why there were those who’d seek to harm her.

Ewan of the Blackfoot Clan is a wolf with a problem. He’s been sent to kill the Heartsong, but the moment he lays eyes on the blonde beauty he knows he’ll defy the evil fae he works for to claim Violet as his own.

This is the tale of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, as it really happened.

I chose to skip book two, Gerard's Beauty. Don't care for french and well, some villains should just stay villains.

Long before the Hatter met his Alice, or Gerard his Belle… a Wolf claimed his mate…

Violet is an avenger against wolves. Black wolves. And the job gets bloody. Crazy girl lies in wait in trees and brutally stabs the beast to death. All because of a memory. And a very distorted one at that.

Ewan first came upon Violet years ago when her life was threatened as a girl. With the intervention of the fairies they both survived, but were forced apart so that Violet would be safe, and could learn how to hate.

Ewan’s howl was a melancholy tune as he reached fruitlessly for the mate stripped violently from his arms.

He's sought her from that very night throughout Kingdom, having been lied and manipulated each and every day. But now, Violet's godmother has allowed her memories to slowly return and her life is again in peril. As she ventures through Kingdom with aim to kill the witch, Violet must confront her misplaced hate for Ewan and come to terms with the evil inside her.

There were things I liked about this book, but in the end I was left with an uncomfortable disappointment. Frankly, I was bored. Expectations were too high. And the mix (or should I say, clash) of extreme violence with the childlike innocence of Violet rubbed me the wrong way. The woman slaughtered a wolf, cuts herself, and later "attempts" suicide before Ewan's eyes then freaks out in utter confusion on what she's meant to do... Who she is... How to have sex. Worst rub of all: wolves don't sweat.

For fifteen years Luc Le Daun has blamed himself for the death of the woman he loved. His secret guilt has led him into a life of danger, risking all and committing to none.

Killing Luc Le Daun has been all Jade Kendell has thought about for years. But when her plan goes awry and she’s brought into the Bringers’ fold, her own dark secret threatens to be revealed. Desire for a better life wars with a promise made long before she understood the ramifications.

In a deadly mission, Jade and Luc embark on a journey into the Shadow World. As they attempt the impossible, ignoring the attraction growing between them becomes harder to deny. The slightest misstep could mean the loss of their souls and give the Demon King exactly what he needs to open the Abyss of Souls and annihilate the Bringers

In Kiss of the Betrayer, we pick up not too far from where we left off in book one, and paint me all shades of giddy at finding both Ravyn and Rhys at the forefront of this one's launch.

Many a plot have brought man and woman together where desire burns for one to kill the other--usually the woman seeks to end the man-- but rarely does one actually succeed as Jade does here. Or she would have, had Ravyn not stabbed Luc first.

With an enchanted, immortal weapon.

Thus granting Luc immortality.

But, huzzah, she did it! Hating herself immediately afterward, too. Poor Luc, only five small chapters in and he's been stabbed for death twice.

Adding to the twists... Luc has been haunted by the death of the woman he loved, and intended to marry, for years. A woman who is very much alive. Very much a Bane (demon). And very much Jade's older sister.

Finally, we have achieved full circle. And the loops, they keep on popping up. Jade quickly learns that not everything she knows is a truth. Luc is not the man her sister has made him out to be. Whatever happened all those years ago, whatever manipulations they made been subjected to, it's shaped them both into who they are today. A camaraderie is formed. Attraction grows.

The romance is subtle and slow moving. A few sweet kisses and whole lot of eye contact keeps things flowing. And while not much happens on the epic scale, this book has many a revelations inside. There are about a hundred more bringers laying in wait to aid Rhys and the team, including Sir Gregory, self-proclaimed rightful heir to the throne. Raven is not the princess she was believed to be, but learns instead that she has two sisters, and a mother that may still live.

During all of this, Rell and Icarus join up and form their own bond. Now, I didn't want Rell with the Demon King's son. I like Icarus. Felt he could do better. And damn, by the end my faith was restored that he might just get it. Siban can have whatever he wants. As far as Icarus' story goes.. he's been banished by his father, Vile, from the Shadow World. He's alone, again.

The ignorant smirk melted from Sha-hera’s face, but still Icarus did not speak. The king’s fist slammed down on the thick stone slab, splitting the table in two and causing Rell to fall backward. She scrambled to the corner like a crab. The heavy chunks fell inward and crashed to the floor to lay broken at Vile’s feet. Sha-hera inched away from the king, but Icarus did not flinch.

4 out of 5 stars. Not much progression aside from knowledge but I loved how Raven and Rhys have kept the focus for the most part. And likely will continue to do so.

“Know this, I—” He captured her lips in a brutal kiss. His teeth nipped her upper lip as he pulled away. “Will never—” He attacked her mouth again, stealing Jade’s breath and all her willpower. She fought against his hold, needing to touch him, but he didn’t release her. After a torturously wonderful minute he pulled away. Both gasped from the power of the kiss. “Lose you,” he panted.

Alice is all grown up. Running the Mad Hatter's Cupcakery and Tea Shoppe is a delicious job, until fate--and a fairy godmother with a weakness for bad boys--throws her a curveball. Now, Alice is the newest resident of Wonderland, where the Mad Hatter fuels her fantasies and thrills her body with his dark touch.

The Mad Hatter may have a voice and a body made for sex, but he takes no lovers. Ever. But a determined fairy godmother has forced Alice into Wonderland--and his arms. Now, as desire and madness converge, the Hatter must decide if he will fight the fairy godmother's mating--or fight for Alice.

For... centuries... fairy godmother, Danika, has been searching for the soul mate of the Mad Hatter, pulling Alices from left to right. When she succeeds in delivering Alice Hu, grand-daughter of an epic fail of an Alice match, Hatter feels a pull like none before to the young woman and despite his qualms and fears of the past repeating itself, he and Alice end up in bed rather quickly. I would swear it was the first night, but time lost meaning for me in this book. They were given three days but I don't think they used them all.

Even though supposedly Alice was not to be able to return until those three days were up. Anyway...

Me loved Hatter. And the madness. Ohhhh the madness. Would have enjoyed the prolonging of its goodness.

Alice, *groan*.. When the first thing a female character does is along the lines of squealing and shouting "girl power," she's begging for death. And woah, this one actually gets it.

4 out of 5 stars. It's got the unique factor and is written with what comes across as effortless talent. However, it's rushed. And not in a way I could easily overlook or accept.

2.14.2013

Dr. Bastian Talbot and self-proclaimed sex goddess Charlie Pierce heat up the air waves with their flirty banter as radio hosts Dr. Hot and the Honeypot. Off the air, they're best friends...but Bastian wants to be so much more. He wants Charlie--in bed, and forever.

Problem is, Charlie doesn't do commitment. Sure, she's had X-rated fantasies of Bastian, but he was always just a friend--until he impulsively proposes and unleashes the lust they've been denying for years. Charlie's willing to explore where their wild chemistry leads, but she won't marry him. And he won't have sex with her until she accepts his proposal, despite her seductive schemes.

What are Dr. Hot and the Honeypot to do? Ask their listeners for advice on how to tame a sex kitten and turn a perfect gentleman into a shameless lover. The Race to Wed or Bed is on...who will turn up on top?

An unrequited love/ best friends turned lovers story. In short, a read one can't help but love.

Bastian is in deep for his best friend but he's convinced she hasn't a clue and it wouldn't matter if she did. Meanwhile, Charlie has often allowed her sexual fantasies to include Bastian but there's no wonder about would happen if they took their relationship that far. She knows exactly how it would end, and it *would* end. Bastian wants a forever woman, but for Charlie, lovers come and go. A good friend is what she needs and treasures most in the world.

Bastian, bless him, is an honest man. He's kept his secret for over a year but the moment Charlie even mentions the word [secret] he can't meet her eyes. And it doesn't take much to get him to crack.

Fear forced tears into her eyes and burned her throat. Things were changing this very second. “Don’t.”
“It’s too late. You wanted to know, so know everything. I’m more than attracted to you. I love you. I love you not only as a friend, as my best friend, the best damn friend I’ve ever had, but as a woman. I want you in my life, in my bed and in my heart. Friendship isn’t enough anymore. I want more.”
Hot tears blinded her. She shoved away from him, thrusting off his hands as he reached for her. A sob replaced the moan in her chest. “You just ruined everything.”

Charlie flees, for all of ten seconds. Just long enough to come to the conclusion that he's fucked up everything, so she might as well fuck him. Give herself the fantasy she'd been denying herself all this time. And she almost gets away with it. Except Bastian catches sight of the tears in her eyes. From there, there's a jump through a proposal and a landing in dating. She agrees, for he insists she just needs time to get used to the idea. And the issue even spills into their late night sex talk radio show.

A product of a mother who was way too young and immature to have a child, Charlie developed early, was pushed into stripping to make her way through college, and has never known permanence. I couldn't relate to any of that. But Charlie had me in her corner all the way. Bastian was the one man she trusted not to reduce her to a sexual plaything. She even gave him the chance to screw her back when his marriage was falling apart. But now, like all the rest, he wants her in his bed. She didn't bother paying attention to the rest of what he said!

Ever read a book you enjoyed so much that you didn't want to read it? I was so there with this one. It was too good to end! Beautifully scripted, every case-made or disputed-vibrated with underlying passion. And twisted! There was no way to know what was going to happen next with the constant waves of surprises.

Bastian was the answer to every girl who's ever lost faith in love. Filled with great one liners and zingers that I was doing all kinds of blushing or laughing over, this book has managed to usurp the position as my favorite friends to lovers story. A title previously held by Insatiable by Cari Quinn. Sadly the crown wasn't held for long.

The death of something priceless should be harder to achieve.

So.. I'm going to quote the hell out of this book...

“I’ll get naked when you wear white.”

...and I'm not sorry about it.

At the threshold, he stopped, hand on the frame. His eyes snagged hers and held them. “Charlie, about what you said while I was in the shower…I’m well aware that you don’t need me for certain things. But I’d like to think you want me. Just in case, I got you another present.” He drew a small white bag from his pocket and tossed it to her.
She caught it awkwardly in one hand, juggling the carton in the other. Then he was gone. She set the ice cream on the console ledge and opened the bag. The outer door latched as her laughter burst out.
Bastian had bought her batteries.

It's just too good. I want to remember everything!

She flew too fast and hard without an anchor. Blindly, she clung to him, nails biting into his shoulders. He held her. Bastian would always hold her when she was weakest.

Alas, we near the end:

The inside of his SUV was warm, borderline hot, but he shivered in cold. That’s what happens when your heart stops. Blood doesn’t flow through the veins, heat seeps away, tissues die. Two-minute window. A body had two minutes from the time the heart stopped until permanent damage began. He never knew how agonizing those two minutes were. Not until Charlie left him. Oh my God, what did I do?

Bastian and Charlie exemplified the exact 'argument' my husband and I have had for ever. Men and women translate things differently. History has taught women to look for what isn't there. Thanks to a certain serpent, we've become paranoid, having learned to read between the lines. Whether or not there truly is anything to be found. Bastian says one thing, Charlie hears something else. Bastian says nothing. Charlie hears a hell of a lot. Over and over again. It's truly the one revolving issue that creates all kinds of drama.

“Talk to me, damn it.” He leaped from the footstool. “You were going to say yes. I saw it in your eyes. What did I say that pushed you away?”
“It’s what you didn’t say.” A single tear dropped from her lashes.
“Wait, you’re pissed at me for something I didn’t say but that you heard loud and clear? That makes perfect sense.” Apparently a hangover didn’t wait until all the alcohol left the blood because a headache exploded behind his eyes. “On what fucking planet?”
“You’re being a martyr,” she snapped. “You threw away something you’ve wanted for years because I’m not good enough for you.”
His jaw dropped. “What? Where in the hell did you get that idea?”
A mocking laugh twisted her mouth. “You. If I were Lisa, you’d never have had a vasectomy.”
“Lisa divorced me.”
Her chin lifted. “And I’m going to Arizona.”
“You can go to hell.”

I'm branding this one a 5 star. And throwing in one last quote, spoiler and all, to close this chapter.